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State wants tax consultant's bail revoked

The State asked the Cape Town Magistrate's Court on Tuesday to revoke bail granted to a tax consultant accused of fraudulently claiming tax refunds.

Heide Jasmine was accused of filing false claims for refunds amounting to R80 847, based on false medical expenses, since she was released on bail.

Jasmine was released on R25 000 bail provided she did not file further fraudulent claims.National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said Jasmine and her husband Daudu Cisse generated an income of R981 600 from the fees they charged taxpayers for their allegedly unlawful work between October 2012 and February 2013.

Ntabazalila alleged the couple submitted income tax returns for about 1 700 clients, with fraudulent medical expenses, to secure tax refunds for their clients.Clients who belonged to medical aid schemes had their medical expenses inflated, while others who did not belong to medical aids had expenses claimed on their behalf.

The clients were not aware that fraudulent information was given to the SA Revenue Service (Sars).

Prosecutors Wellington Sampisi and Tozama Plaatjie-Mbodlana said Jasmine had filed further false claims for tax refunds amounting to R80 847, also based on false medical expenses, since her release on bail.

Sars investigator James Trichardt said Jasmine had filed eight more claims for tax.He said none of the additional eight clients belonged to medical aids and were not aware of the fraudulent medical aid deductions made on their behalf, allegedly by Jasmine and her husband.

During cross-examination, defence counsel Vuyani Peter, for Jasmine, suggested Jasmine's clients may have accessed the Sars e-filing system and added the false claims.Trichardt said they would have needed the Sars internet password to do that.

WHY REGISTER WITH SAIT?

Section 240A of the Tax Administration Act, 2011 (as amended) requires that all tax practitioners register with a recognized controlling body before 1 July 2013. It is a criminal offense to not register with both a recognized controlling body and SARS.